Benzel Captures Award For Success At Nationals

December 22, 1985|By Max Branyon, Sentinel Correspondent

Because of his performance at the National Water Ski Championships in August, David Benzel of Groveland won the 1985 Ski Nautique Award.

Officials of Correct Craft of Orlando, manufacturers of the Ski Nautique, a ski boat that is used in tournaments throughout the world, said that Benzel won the award because of the points he logged at the Nationals.

''Each year we present the award to the skier who totals the largest number of overall points during the Nationals,'' a company spokesman announced.

In his first year in the Senior Men Division, Benzel, 35, former Men II Overall Champion, totalled 4,045.8 points overall points to win the award. This was the second highest overall score ever recorded at the Nationals. Also, it was more than 1,200 points more than the second place Senior Men competitor's score.

Benzel and his wife Cyndi own the Benzel Skiing Center in Groveland. Both are avid, highly-ranked water skiers.

At the Nationals this year David won first place in jumping by leaping 142 feet -- a foot short of the record in his division. Furthermore, the jump earned him the Cypress Gardens Ramp Master Award for coming closest to breaking an existing jump record.

In addition, David placed second in the tricks event to record holder Russ Stiffler. ''I feel very fortunate for this victory because my practice time has been limited due to stress and distractions associated with our starting a new ski school last February,'' he said.

Correct Craft officials said that their company is proud of David because of his dedication to the sport of water skiing.

''His warm, unselfish nature makes him a positive role model for many up- and-coming young skiers.''

For the second year, the U.S. Boardsailing Team will offer a full schedule of winter clinics for the intermediate to the advanced boardsailor.

Taught by national team members under the direction of Coach Major Hall, 15 four-day clinics will be conducted from mid-January to mid-May at the USBT winter training site in Melbourne.

The clinics, designed for anyone above the beginner level, cover both recreational and racing skills, according to Hall. Also, the instruction employs techniques developed by the team while training for the 1984 Olympics, utilizing videotaping to speed up the learning process. Students receive their instruction on 1986 Mistral Superlight sailboards.

A new rowing school has opened in Port St. Lucie at the Sandpiper Bay Resort Hotel and Marina. Instruction is being offered in sculling techniques, watermanship and rigging for all ages and skill levels.

Rowing packages for students enrolled in the three-day and five-day classes will include hotel accommodations, meals and the use of first class racing, training and recreational shells.